Rookie defensive end Romeo Okwara, who has stepped in for the Giants in the absence of Jason Pierre-Paul, tackles some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: Is this a Super Bowl defense?

A: Yes.

Q: Why?

A: Obviously, [I’ve] never been part of a Super Bowl defense before (laugh). But, just the way we’re playing and the way we play together … you tend to play better when you’re really comfortable around the guys you’re around. And I think we have a lot of great leaders on the team that play together, just play not selfishly.

Q: How would you describe the personality of this defense?

A: We like to attack.

Q: What is your on-field mentality?

A: Before games, I kind of go into this … I’ve never boxed, but I’d say like a boxer mentality. It’s like mano-a-mano, me against the guy in front of me, and I’m trying to beat him and I’m trying to outwork him in every way possible and outsmart him, and just know what punches he’s gonna throw and how to counter that. You’ll probably see me sometimes during pregame kind of throwing some punches or whatever.

Q: You mean shadow boxing?

A: Yeah, shadow boxing (chuckle).

Q: How would you describe that mentality?

A: I don’t know how to describe the mindset. … I wouldn’t say like it’s a dark place, but it’s a very focused like you’re not gonna stop me. Like I’m just gonna outwork you and out physical you each and every play. I’m really calm off the field. … When I’m on the field, I’m a lot more aggressive and … meaner (laugh).

Q: What was it like getting your first career sack last week against the Cowboys?

A: It was awesome. I think long overdue (laugh). “Sunday Night Football” at home, my brother [Jimel] was here and I had some friends here.

Q: What’s so great about a sack?

A: It’s kind of like this cat-and-mouse game you play with the O-lineman. You try to set things up all game, and then you finally get him to bite or something, or you finally get the hands in the right place, and it’s kind of like a mini-victory in the game. It definitely boosts your confidence up during the game, and it definitely loosens you up.

Q: What’s better, sacks or sex?

A: Sacks (laugh).

Q: Why would you say that?

A: I mean, there’s nothing like a sack (laugh). You have to work for it. … Sacks are very fulfilling.

Q: What drives you now?

A: I’m a very self-driven person. I want to succeed in whatever I do. I don’t think I try to do it for anyone, I try to do it for myself.

Q: How good do you think you can be as a New York Giant?

A: I think I have a lot of potential. And I want to be known as one of the great players here, in New York. Which is a really high bar. And I think everyone should want to strive to be one of the greatest. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to. I think everyone should want to be the greatest in whatever they’re doing.

Q: What’s it like playing in New York?

A: It’s great. New York fans, I’ve come to learn, are really passionate about sports (laugh). Just like even walking around the city, you see so many fans. You got the Yankees, got the Mets, got the Rangers, Islanders, Knicks, Nets, Devils, Giants, Jets, of course. Sports are definitely a huge part of the culture in New York City.

Q: Are you recognized?

A: No. I take the subway a lot.

Q: Nobody has recognized you?

A: I like it that way. I think the first time was actually [Tuesday]. I was at a restaurant. My waiter asked me if I played for the Giants, I was like, “Yeah.”

A: I’m sure Odell [Beckham Jr.] can’t go anywhere he wants to. He can’t take the subway without getting hassled. Which is, I guess, it’s not a terrible thing to be that recognized. But it’d be nice to have some space.

Q: What are your favorite New York City things?

A: I like the street art culture. Around certain areas of the city, East Village or like the Soho area. … I like the creativity of people. Going into my senior year of college, I actually went to Greece to study art history.

Q: How did you feel not being drafted?

A: That was a really tough day for me and my family. So the first day goes by, second day goes by, and you’re sitting on your couch (chuckle) the entire time. And your family’s there, and then the third day’s here, and I literally sat on my couch for probably six hours and didn’t move. Pick after pick, pick after pick, waiting for my phone to ring. It rang a couple of times, but it’s calling you to try to sign you as a free agent in like the fifth round. So that was really frustrating for me.

Q: Have you used that as motivation?

A: Yeah, absolutely. Obviously when you have people that doubt you, that was definitely a chip on my shoulder.

Q: Why did you pick the New York Giants?

A: I talked to [defensive line] Coach [Patrick] Graham right after the draft, and he seemed to believe in me and think I had a good shot. And also, I’ve always enjoyed watching the Giants D-line, and just the D-line history they have here is … insane (chuckle).

Q: What do you remember about Michael Strahan?

A: He had a lot of sacks (chuckle). That’s one thing I remember. And he was obviously a great leader here in New York.

Q: Justin Tuck?

A: He’s a mentor of mine now. He was a great leader. I remember one play specifically where he chased down a running back down the sideline, the guy was gonna score a touchdown, and he chased him down like, I think like 60 yards, and caught him from behind.

Q: Osi Umenyiora?

A: First of all, he had some Nigerian lineage, which obviously, for me, that’s huge. He had the elite speed off the edge. It was always fun to watch them. It felt like they just read off of each other, and they had this chemistry that allowed them to succeed.

Q: JPP?

A: One thing that stands out to, I think, everyone, is the way he came back, especially after what happened last year, just going through adversity and never giving up, never having a doubt in his mind he was gonna return to football and keep dominating at the high level he always has.

Q: What enables him to dominate?

A: I think it’s his mindset. I think he’s just built that way. He just has a knack of reading plays. Like he knows how to make the big plays. It might not be what was drawn up on the board, or what the X’s and O’s were, but he can sniff those big plays out, and he makes those each and every game.

Q: Give me a scouting report on Romeo Okwara.

A: I’d say I pride myself as being a pretty smart player. I like when people trust me. I think I have good length. A good burst off the ball. A high motor. I don’t want anyone ever doubt my effort. Strength. It helps when you have longer arms than a lot of people.

Q: Describe defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

A: He’s a very smart guy that knows exactly what he’s doing. If you’re exactly where he puts you, you’re there for a reason, and you’re gonna make plays there.

A: That’s Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was a street artist in New York City, he was one of the most influential artists in the world. I like art. He did a lot of African-American art, and I just liked the techniques he used.

Q: Do you draw?

A: I used to.

Q: You still play the guitar?

A: I try to.

Q: Do you have one at home?

A: I have a couple guitars. I have an electric guitar, an acoustic and a ukulele.

Q: How often do you play them?

A: Probably like 2-3 times a week, you try to practice for a little bit.

Q: Is it relaxing?

A: Yeah, it’s definitely relaxing. I love music. We play music during practice and I’m always grooving to something.

A: Steve Smith was obviously a really great player, and just like his attitude he brought to the game, that was something I always enjoyed watching. He brought an energy unlike any other person I’ve seen. After every play he makes, he gets up there and just like celebrates. You can tell he’s really passionate about the game, and it just makes it really fun to watch. And Julius Peppers, he’s like the silent killer. You don’t hear a lot of things about Julius Peppers, but he’s like one of the best players to ever play the defensive end position. He’s such a dominant force on the field. He doesn’t do a lot of talking. He goes out there and just handles his business.

Q: Any other defensive players you admire around the league?

A: Von Miller.

Q: You liked McDonald’s when you came over from Lagos, Nigeria.

A: When I moved over to the States in sixth grade, I think that was one of the first restaurants I wanted to try out (laugh).

Q: What did you have?

A: I think I had a Big Mac, actually. That was my first McDonald’s meal, Big Mac and some nuggets, I think. It was decent, decent food.

Q: Why did you choose Notre Dame?

A: The week I decided to commit, I was actually gonna go to Chapel Hill, and then, I took one last visit to Notre Dame, and I absolutely fell in love with it. From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew I was gonna go there.